"A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work." ~ Author Unknown
There is a stretch of stream not more than ten minutes from my home in Philadelphia it's rather narrow and slow moving and is, for some unknown reason, rarely fished. It is part of an ecological trust, an area of preservation that includes forest and meadowland.
A year or two ago, as I photographed in the preserve, I began noticing signs on some of the trees: "FISHING CATCH AND RELEASE ONLY".
My kind of fishing.
For a year or so, I forgot about the signs and only remembered them upon seeing them each time I went to take photographs. But recently, I recalled them, left my camera at home and took a fly rod instead (I did take along my iPhone which had a pretty darn good camera with an HDR (high dynamic range feature -- it takes pretty nice pictures).
This afternoon I caught no fewer that 20 fish (released them all) and was pleasantly surprised at the number of different species -- Orange-breasted Sunfish, Green Sunfish and Rock Bass. I have seen trout and large and smallmouth bass in the clear water but haven't caught any yet I will.
If you don't know anything about fly fishing (or about fishing altogether), I will briefly state that to float an imitation insect on the surface of a stream and watch it drift along in the current, anticipating, hoping -- that some opportunistic feeder will suddenly appear out of apparent nowhere and grab it, swim away and jump a time or two, then swim/jump some more before being brought to the net is a fine experience.
'Nuf words.
This is where I fly fished today.
Orange-breasted Sunfish
Both photos were taken with my iPhone. Wish you could all join me in this beautiful setting.
A. Mac
Tags
Who is online
484 visitors
All fish were returned to the stream.
Wish you were here.
Nothing beat a day of fishing, good or bad.
Great photos Mac.
Sure looks relaxin', wishI was there too.
Thanks A.Mac!
Beautiful as usual. The other day someone was saying (on one of your articles) how they ran out of adjectives to describe your work. I agree 100%. How many ways can you say "awesome" ?
As you know I come from the "catch and eat" school of fishing combining the joy of the sport with the fill of the stomach. Sunfish and Rock bass are usually a little boney, though, so those I would release.
Absolutely beautiful picture of the stream. I see peace and serenity written all over that spot. And I live on the edge of one of the nations largest National Forests and Wilderness areas.
Unfortunately rod and reel fishing has been spoiled by my commercial fishing job. I am used to putting a drift gillnet across a river channel and catching 400, 6lb. sockeye salmon in 10 minutes. Of course that does not happen every set, sometimes you only get a few, sometimes you only feed the sea lions.
Nonetheless, thanks for the pics. Looks like a very contemplative place to be.
Sailfish?
Beautiful fish!
I would think that a bad day spent fishing, (which I take to mean an unsuccessful fish-catching day), is a day spent outdoors, enjoying the weather and all the beautiful things out there-- and that's infinitely better than any day spent indoors, plugging along...
At least it would be to me!
Beautiful deck!!!
Really nice Mike!
I wish I had that in my backyard. What a wonderful way to spend a weekend (or weekday). Beautiful shot of the stream. Does make me wish I was there.
Love that design Mike!
What big eyes you have Mr. Sunfish!
The better to see you with?
Yup - I can hear the "zzzzz's" right now.